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MIAMI — Max Kranick aced his first real test in a Mets uniform on Saturday.
With the Mets trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning in Houston, the right-hander entered a bases-loaded jam and retired the only two batters he faced.
He had last appeared in a major league game in 2022, with the Pirates.
“I definitely had some jitters all series long,” Kranick said. “My heart was racing [Saturday].”
The Mets aren’t hitting, but their bullpen has been a positive through the first three games.
That unit combined to pitch 10 ²/₃ scoreless innings against the Astros.
All eight Mets relievers appeared in the series without duplication, giving manager Carlos Mendoza a rested bullpen heading into Monday against the Marlins.
Kranick, who was one of the last additions to the bullpen, impressed team officials in spring training with his 97-mph heat and ability to pitch multiple innings.
José Buttó and Huascar Brazobán are others who can give the Mets extended appearances from the bullpen.
“We talked about at the beginning of the series trying to find [Kranick] a soft spot,” Mendoza said. “And there he was in the eighth inning, down one and facing one of the best hitters in the league [Yordan Alvarez], so he got the job done.”
Mets top pitching prospect Brandon Sproat had a rough outing in his season debut for Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.
The right-hander allowed four runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Sproat started seven games for Syracuse last season and pitched to a 7.53 ERA after dominating at Double-A Binghamton.
David Peterson, Kodai Senga and Clay Holmes are the scheduled starters for the series in Miami.
The lefty Peterson led all Mets starting pitchers with a 2.90 ERA last season.
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